Golf swing guiding device including correct swing indicator



y 1967 D. H. COCKBURN 3,319,963

GOLF SWING GUIDING DEVICE INCLUDING CORRECT SWING INDICATOR Filed Nov. 15, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 5 5 12 w/e/sr LUCK/N6 PM)! x 3 Z7 /Z6 WRIST TURN/N5 P/VUT ATTORNEY May 16, 1967 D. H. COCKBURN 3,319,953

GOLF swING GUIDING DEVICE INCLUDING CORRECT SWING INDICATOR Filed Nov. 15, 1963 I 2 Sheets-5heet 2 &2

4; I I MAIN SW/Nfi P/WT I INVENTOR 56 a 147/, ak/7M r72 KW 27% I 71% ATTORNEY 3,319,963 GOLF SWING GUIDING DEVICE INCLUDING CORRECT SWING INDICATOR David H. Cockburn, 1 N. Park, Iver, England Filed Nov. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 324,121 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Nov. 16, 1962, 43,474/62 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-186) This invention relates to machines intended for use by golfers for practising driving and iron shots and the attainment of a consistently accurate swing.

Although the path of movement of the head of a golf club is not a true circle, the basis of the curved path includes an arc struck from a pivot point situated on an inclined line passing substantially through the top of the hips and elbows of the player.

The machine in accordance with the present invention either carries a driver or other club or includes a part simulating a club, the machine being so designed that the player is constrained to swing the club through the correct arc of movement during the up-swing and down-swing, movement of the club being virtually unrestricted provided the player has adopted the correct stance, pivots his body and follows the correct instructions as regards weight transference and maintaining the head stationary during both the upswing and down-swing.

A golf practice machine in accordance with the present invention comprises an arm adapted to carry a driver or other club or a member simulating such a club, said arm being mounted on a fixed part for pivotal movement about an axis which if continued would pass substantially through the top of the hips and elbows of the player, the arm being so constructed as to permit the club or the member simulating the club to turn about the axis of the club shaft, the arm including a third pivot axis permitting pivotal movement of the club or club simulating member which if continued would pass through or substantially through the wrists of the player to allow the necessary wrist flexing movement.

Referring to the accompanying drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a golf practice machine in accordance with the invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a similar view illustrating a modified form.

Referring in the first case to FIGURE 1 the machine takes the form of a self-contained easily transportable unit including a base 1 on which the golfer will stand when using the machine to practice his swing, the base and the remaining parts of the machine being detachably connected together by one or more bolts or like fastenings 2.

The machine includes a tubular socket 3 in which is mounted a replica of a golf club 4 for example a driver or iron, the club shaft being free to turn axially within the socket to form a wrist turning pivot whereby the golfer can impart the correct turning movement to the club head during both the up swing, down swing and follow through movement of the club.

The socket carries an upwardly projecting extension 5 terminating in a cross-piece 6 pivotally connected to the bifurcated lower end 7 of a vertical shaft 8 slidably mounted in a tube 9. The shaft 8 is formed with a diametral boring for the reception of a pin 10 which is passed through selected holes 11 in the walls of the tube 9 thereby raising or lowering the effective height of the wrist cocking pivot provided by parts 6 and 7 to suit players of different height. It will be appreciated of course that the pivotal axis 12 will if extended pass through or substantially through the wrists of the player.

The tube 9 is carried by an arched member 13 which in turn is pivotally associated by means of a hinge pin or United States Patent 0 the like with a bracket 14 secured to a vertical pillar 1a on the base by the bolt or other securing member 2, this pivot constituting the main swing pivot, its axis being indicated by reference numeral 15, this axis lying substantially at right angles to a line 16 passing through the center of the ball 17 and lying in a plane in which the club head is constrained to move throughout the swing.

The bolt 2 or the like passes through a slot 18 in the bracket 14 and when adjusting the position of the pin 10, the wing-nut 19 on the bolt 2 will be slacked off and the bracket shifted vertically upward or downward so that the club head just clears the ground, the wing-nut being then re-tightened. The tube 9 may be conveniently marked to clearly indicate a range of heights of players for example between five feet and two inches and six feet and four inches.

Although the machine is shown attached to a base it may just as conveniently be bolted or otherwise secured to a wall or other supporting surface.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, this machine is intended for attachment to a pillar or post 1a or a wall or other vertical supporting surface by a special bracket 20 composed of two parts 21 and 22 pivotally connected together by a bolt 23. Part 22 carries a pointer 24 or its equivalent which cooperates with a scale 25 on the fixed part 21. As will be seen clearly from the drawing the swing axis 15 is shown at an angle of 34 to the horizontal, this angle giving a relatively fiat swing as used by many first class golfers. It can be varied to give any swing from fiat to upright by slackening off the bolt 23 and moving the part 22 about the pivot axis until the pointer lies opposite the mark indicating the selected angle, the bolt being then re-tightened.

The remaining parts of the machine correspond in operation with the machine previously described and consequently have been given similar reference numerals.

Although the socket 3 may be specially constructed to take any club, for example the players own woods and irons, the club used may be a special practice club in which case a pin 26 may be passed diametrically through the club shaft, the pin engaging a helical compression spring 27 which abuts against the end of the socket, the opposite end of the socket being formed with a V-shaped notch 28 which can be entered by a second pin 29 passing through a diametral boring in the club shaft, when the club head is in the ball impact position. The entry of the pin into the V notch will either be felt or audibly noted by the player and if this coincides with the impact of the club head with the ball, the latter will have been struck correctly without tendency to pull or slice.

Although a ball is actually shown in the drawings it is of course not really necessary to use a ball during swinging practice and generally it will not be used until the player has acquired a good proficient swing. Some suitable spring-like projection could be used if desired which would be struck by the club head which would when struck give an audible click and in such a case provided the entry of the pin into the notch coincided with this audible click, the player would be quite confident that the angle of the club face to the ball was correct at the point of impact.

The club shaft is preferably formed with a number of borings suitably spaced for selective entry by the pin 29 to suit players of different heights or length of arms, the spring holding the pin 29 in engagement with the adjacent end of the socket in any adjusted position.

The parts of the machine are preferably constructed from a lightweight aluminum or like alloy, a number of the parts being constructed in tubular form.

It will be appreciated that the swing will be free and unimpeded if the golfer has adopted the correct stance and follows out of the correct hip, knee and wrist movements, but will to a certain extent be impeded if he has not fol\ lowed the correct instructions. Consequently, in the course of time his swing will become more consistently accurate and this will be appreciated by the player due to the fact that his swing is no longer impeded at any point. It will be appreciated that the arm carrying the practice club will turn about its pivotal point With a minimum of friction and due to its light Weight construction will offer only a small resistance to movement. The club head may be suitably weighted so that the golfer will when using the machine experience substantially the same feel as when swinging an ordinary club.

I claim:

A golf practice device comprising a member, socket means on one end thereof carrying a golf club, a vertical fixed support, means at the opposite end of said member for mounting it on said fixed support, the member including three pivot connections, namely, a first main pivot connection with the fixed support, a second wrist turning pivot connection with the golf club, permitting the club to turn about the axis of its shaft, and a third intermediate wrist cocking pivot connection, means whereby the posi- ,tion of said main and Wrist cocking pivot connections can at onexend of said socket, a pin in said club shaft, means for biasing said pin and notch into engagement when the club face is in the correct ball striking position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,299,781 10/1942 Adams 273-191 2,328,408 8/1943 Beil et al 27319l 2,458,932 1/1949 Cottingham 273191 2,626,151 1/1953 Jenks 273191 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

G. J. MARLO, L. I. BOVASSO, Assistant Examiners. 

